Device for depositing strips



- Nov. 4, 1969 J (jFF| ER ET AL 3,476,378

DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING STRIPS Filed Dec. 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1 L

Fig.2

INVENTORS Jose: 1 5/32 52 560 EAMPP I A s Sax/44!. BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,476,378 DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING STRIPS Josef Liiflier, Egon Rampp, and-Hans Schall, Munich, Germany, assignors to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Dec. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 513,267 Claims priority, application Ggrmany, Dec. 14, 1964,

Int. Cl. B6511 45/00 US. Cl. 270-61 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In high speed printing apparatuses, as for example, tabulating machines which are used as output units of electronic computing devices, it is to be observed, as a rule, that there forms first under the sections of the prefolded paper strip or web striking the stack, an air cushion which easily leads to difficulties, especially to the rolling in of an edge of such section. Even inlaterally open receiving receptacles frequently the air cushion cannot escape rapidly enough, especially with respect to the use of types of paper with low specific gravity, particularly single-layer papers. The invention, therefore, is directed to a solution for this.

The device according to the invention for the stackforming deposition of strips, in the form of individual sheets or sections resulting through prefolding of a band is characterized by suction means arranged adjacent the depositioning area, by which the formation of an air cushion under each newly entering sheet or strip section as it strikes the stack being formed, is prevented.

The invention is hereinafter explained in detail with the aid of the drawings illustrating an example of construction; in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic figure illustrating the phenomenon which, as a rule, is observed in the conventional depositing devices;

FIG. 2 is a similar view illustrating a paper depositing in the desired form, such as is achieved by the invention; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 represent a front and a side view, respectively, of a receiving or depositioning device according to the invention.

As initially stated, in conventional depositing devices, especially those involving use of light manifold paper and the like, in the manner shown in FIG. 1, an air cushion forms under the sheet or strip section which is the last to strike the stack, which air cushion only slowly escapes. Here there can easily occur a rolling in of an edge of such sheet or section. With the invention, however, it is possible to dissipate such an air cushion very rapidly, or even to prevent its arising, so that the individual sections are faultlessly deposited in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is represented a carriage or base 1, such as is used for paper supply at the feed side, as well as at the receptacle for a paper stack at the discharge side of a rapid printer or the like. On the carriage 1 there are arranged guide means illustrated as being in the form of rods 2, which define oppositely facing opened side walls, operative to guide the individual sections,

3,476,378 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 formed by prefolding, of the paper web or strip 3, whereby it will settle in a predetermined manner, i.e., in the form of a stack 4. Adjacent the lateral side of stack 4, at a short distance therefrom, is disposed a suction means or unit 5, by means of which, according to the invention, the air cushion, otherwise forming according to FIG. 1, is rapidly drawn off by suction.

The suction unit 5 consists, for example, of a single exhaust fan. In order to arrive at a more uniform effect on as great as possible a portion of the face surface of stack 4, it may be desirable, under some circumstances, to arrange several such fans alongside and/or over one another. For this purpose there as especially well suited the very flat radial blade fans available on the market, making use of induction motors, for example, external rotor induction motors. Such a form of construction is particularly desirable when there is only a small space available for the suction device.

However, a still more uniform effect can be achieved with suction units 5 if space requirements permit in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which a blower 6 is mounted, together with s funnel-shaped duct 7 disposed in front of it, on a support stand. In a simple form the block 8 is merely placed on the carriage 2, in which case it is expediently equipped with rubber feet as sliding protection.

In the example illustrated, however, the stand 8 is secured to the carriage 1 by bolting. If paper strips of differing width are to be used, a simple possibility of adjustment for the stand 8 consists, for example, in the provision of wing nuts 9, and cooperable screw bolts are provided, which extend through corresponding elongated holes in the base plate 10 of the stand 8 to provide an adjustment means for the suction means 5. A still greater possibility of adjustment results if there are provided in the base plate of the carriage 1 the familiar T-shaped grooves, in which correspondingly formed screw bolts are so carried that in the loosened state thereof they can be slid along in the grooves. Grooves, like elongated holes, extend in the representation of FIG. 3, parallel to the drawing plane.

Another possibility consists in mounting the suction device on the machine itself, as for example, supporting it on rails.

For the achievement of a more uniform suction effect, especially in the case of a very shallow funnel-shaped duct member 7, such as will be used, as a rule, for reasons of available space, it is recommended that the latter be covered on the side facing the stack 4 by an air distributive screen, for example in the form of a perforated plate 11. Such a screen may additionally serve as a guide for the paper strip 3, in order to prevent the possibility that parts of the same will be drawn into the blower 6.

Through suitable choice of the perforation size and/ or of the perforation spacings on plate 11 it is further possible to achieve air speeds as may be desired, and thereby create the desired suction effect over the cross section of the member 7. If, as is sometimes the case, a powerful vacuum source is available, the suction means then can simply consist of an inflow duct connected to the suction line thereof, in particular in a similar form to the member 7 of the suction unit 5 according to FIGS. 3 and 4. Under some circumstances even the suction apparatus of a vacuum cleaner can be used as the suction blower.

As has been proved, starting from a certain width of the paper strip 3, dependent, among other things, on the specific weight of the paper, a suction device corresponding to that of FIG. 3 mounted at one side no longer individually suflices, even if its output could be made correspondingly great. Then warping of the paper strip can occur, which in turn may interfere with the desired depositing. In such a case the mounting of such units or suction means 5 and 5', according to the invention, on two sides will promote the desired result.

On the other hand, improvements in the suction effect can under some circumstances also be achieved if there is arranged at a short distance from the side of stack 4 remote from the suction unit a solid wall in the position where a screen or perforated plate 11 of the suction device 5 is illustrated in FIG. 3, which tends to effect a par- Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims which define what is believed to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for receiving a strip from a discharge side of a strip handling device and for depositing of the strip into a stack, the strip having a form of individual sheets or sections preformed by folding of the strip, said apparatus comprising:

a receptacle having a base and oppositely facing guide means for guiding and positioning the strip as it forms the stack upon the base, said guide means being attached to said base and defining oppositely facing sides with openings therein of said receptacle; and suction means disposed adjacent said receptacle at a lateral side extending between said guide means so that the air is withdrawn from between the sheets or sections parallel to the prefolded edges of the strip to assist in forming the stack in said receptacle. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receptacleincludes a wall attached to said base opposite to said suction means and extending laterally between said opened sides to partially restrict the flow of air through the stack at the end opposite said suction means.

.3. An apparatus. according to claim -1, in which said apparatus includes a .second suction means attached to said base opposite to said first mentioned suction means so that the air iswithdrawn from between the sheets or sections of the strip at both ends to assist in forming the stack.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,170,685 2/1965 Biggar 270--68 3,255,662 6/1966 Call 270 s2.5 x 3,185,400 5/1965 Maxey 226l18 x 2,440,302 4/1948 Sherman 270 52.s x

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner P. V. WILLIAMS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 270-69 

